EU Urges Polish President Not to Deprive Media of Independence

A new regulation, if passed, will place broadcasters under the direct control of the Polish government.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — EU Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muiznieks called on the Polish president on Tuesday not to sign a controversial media law that will give the government control over appointments in public broadcasting.

"I call on the President of the Republic of Poland not to sign the law on Public Service Media governance and to uphold the independence of Poland’s public service television and radio," Muiznieks said in a statement.

The regulation will allow the government to appoint and dismiss members of supervisory and management boards on public television and radio, effectively placing broadcasters under its direct control.

Muiznieks stressed that the law violated Council of Europe standards that require that public service media remain independent of political or economic interference.

The law was adopted by parliament last week without much debate, raising concerns among EU officials. EU Digital Economy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has promised an EU discussion on the issue at the European Commission meeting on January 13.

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